Bhubaneswar: Hailing the recent Supreme Court's decision for streamlining the existing management and affairs of Puri Srimandir, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said that Odisha government should intervene as time is now ripe for undertaking reform measures for the 12th century shrine.
The VHP also demanded formation of a committee comprising Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, Puri Sankaracharya and other intellectuals. Moreover, the outfit also threatened to stage an indefinite dharna if the government fails to ensure better administration within a stipulated time period.
"If the government fails to constitute a committee within two months, we will sit on dharna in front of the Srimandir," said President of VHP's Odisha zone, Badrinath Patnaik.
Speaking on donations to servitors, Patnaik said that the servitors should not be paid even a single penny except their respective salaries.
Taking strong notice of mismanagement and exploitation of devotees by servitors in the Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, the Supreme Court on Friday earlier barred the servitors to accept donations from devotees while hearing a PIL filed by Mrunalini Padhi over harassment of devotees.
“Offerings can be collected in Hundis and will be utlisised for the development of the Temple,” the apex court had said in its order.